Solar vs kerosene

Updated 1633 GMT (0033 HKT) January 10, 2012

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Photos:Solar vs kerosene

Solar vs Kerosene – The International Energy Agency says that 1.3 billion people around the world still live without access to electricity. In most cases, kerosene lamps are used to meet lighting needs.

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Photos:Solar vs kerosene

Solar vs Kerosene – However, kerosene and other forms of fuel-based light release significant quantities of CO2 into the atmosphere and the inflammatory agents in kerosene have been cited as a cause of everything from cancer to behavioral deficits. According to the UNDP, in rural Kenya more women die of fume-related illnesses than they do of malaria and tuberculosis.

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Solar vs Kerosene – But recently a new type of hard-wearing and portable solar-powered LED lamp has emerged onto the market - providing a safer, brighter, cheaper and more environmentally sustainable form of light.

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Photos:Solar vs kerosene

Solar vs Kerosene – The "MightyLight" (pictured), developed by a small start-up in Delhi, India is already being used by 100,000 of the country's poorest people. It can be applied as a ceiling light, wall light, or torch light; is both water and shock proof; can run for up to 12 hours on a single charge and comes in at $25.

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Solar vs Kerosene – Evan Mills, from the Lumina Project, has calculated that those without electric light in the developing world collectively spend $38 billion a year on kerosene. On top of which, the light it produces is dim, and ill-suited for use in delicate work, such as tailoring.

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Solar vs Kerosene – Solar-powered LEDs produce light that, says Mills, is up to 100 times brighter than kerosene-fueled light. This has meant that, on top of their saving on fuel bills, many adopters of solar lamps are able to work much longer hours.